Beyond My Comfort Zone . . .

My team is currently reading a book on teamwork, and the recent chapter describes my life of today perfectly:

To help people reach their potential and maximize their effectiveness, stretch them out of the comfort zones, but never out of their gift zones . . . motivating people out of their comfort zones leads to fulfillment.

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork John C. Maxwell

There are aspects of my life here that are self-motivational. I study Fulfulde on my own. I report my hours to my team director. I meet occasionally with a larger inter-denominational Fulani team. However, the studying, creativity, motivation - largely is my own. Though the above quote was written to leaders in how to motivate their teams. I see in some ways how I myself have to do this in my language study. Learning Fulfulde is within my gift zone and learning this will lead to fulfillment - the ultimate reason why I am here - to share with my Fulani friends (in their own heart language) the love of God. However, to reach my potential and maximize my effectiveness I need to practice the language.

Thus today, I stretched myself beyond and (way, way) outside my comfort zone!

Today, I walked down the street to a group of four huts where live a group of Fulani people (or so I was told - I was hoping that they had not moved!). The goal being to walk into a complete group of strangers, greet them in their language - and pray that they would accept me in to sit and listen and practice my Fulfulde!! Yup - complete strangers! Who speak another language, of which I only know small small (African expression for: a little)! All on my own! No previous team contact. Deep breath . . . I can do this.

So off I headed, wondering if it was even culturally acceptable to walk into a concession (home) of people I do not know. As I approached their area, I noticed that the wall of the courtyard was wide open - at least I would not be walking through a closed door or gate. I walked slowly past the opening and noticed women scattered throughout the yard. I greeted them in the generic Nigerien salutation 'Fofo'. This would at least cover me if they were not Fulani. The closest lady responded and I ventured another greeting this time in Fulfulde to which she responded in Fulfulde. I then ventured a few steps into the yard to ask if she spoke Fulfulde. She answered affirmatively.

By this time, I have the attention of everyone in the yard - all women and children: about 10 people! They have all stopped working, walking, playing to watch the white woman. I continue to greet the first lady; however, though she is responding to me, she has switched to Zarma!! I am hesitant to continue, but decide that she is at the very least understanding me. I mention that I am learning Fulfulde and they motion for me to come in and sit down.

For the next 10 minutes or so, I stutter a few questions and they continue speaking amongst themselves. Though, aside from a few words directed at me, the women continue speaking in Zarma and ask if I am studying Zarma or Hausa as well. After this time, I am beginning to wonder if perhaps the Fulani had moved and I now had met a Zarma family! Yet, after explaining why I was studying Fulfulde - to work with the Fulani - and that my team worked towards Makalondi (a village South of Niamy), the ladies began speaking in Fulfulde. Perhaps they were cautious admitting they were Fulani until they understood why I was there (likely as, or more, nervous than was I)!

For the next hour, I sat and spoke a few words and mostly listened to them chatter amongst themselves, capturing a few words here and there. I believe that I said: "I don't understand" more times in this hour than all times combined since I started studying Fulfulde!!

After some time, I decided that I should head back home and allow the ladies to return to their work. Despite my indicated that they should not stop working, they all gathered around where I was sitting to 'entertain' me. I indicated that I was going home and they all walked me to the gate to say goodbye. They asked if I was coming back tomorrow and indicated that I was welcome any day that I wanted to come!

I have found my Fulani friends!

Camel-Like Submission??

I have been ruminating on some New Year's Resolutions for the last week, until I read recently a blog post of another missionary who writes of intentional choice and concise declaration for her NYRs.

My NYRs have always tended to be the open-ended generic type - and typically Christian - to study my Bible and pray more. These top my list again this year, but the above definition of an NYR has struck home. And thus, my New Year's Resolution has incorporated an idea on which I have been meditating for a few months. An idea which started in French class back this Spring, which God used - through an object lesson on a camel ride - to cause me to meditate on my life.

Spring 2008 - French Lesson:

verb - se genouiller: used to describe the action of a camel kneeling to the ground

Fall 2008 - Conversation:

Yes - this verb can be used to describe the action of us kneeling before God

Fall 2008 - Object Lesson:

Location: West of Niamey, Niger, West Africa

Purpose: Camel Ride Trip with RockPointe Prayer Team

Subject: Camels

I noticed on this trip that the camel is definitely a stubborn and often one-minded dromedary. When asked to kneel to the ground to accept a load or passenger, more often than not, the camel will loud groan and protest said activity before eventually submitting to the command of the camel driver. During the camel train ride, the camel driver walks in front of the camel - leading him.

At one point in the trip, the camel train paused to transfer one of the team children from one camel to another. During this brief pause, one of the camels broke line to sit down in the adjacent field to munch on some plants - much to the chagrin of his driver - and of course, he loudly protested having to leave snack behind, get up and rejoin the train of movement.

Lesson:

As I made the connection behind camel's behaviour, through the verb for it's action of kneeling, to my kneeling before my God; I realized that we (Christians in general - me specifically) sometimes behave like the camel. How often does my God ask of me submission and I respond with groans and loud protests - sounding much like the camels that day?

New Year's Resolution:

This year, I resolve:

be more attentive to His voice calling for submission , in the small details of life . . . .

Sure I succeed at times in the big things - I'm in Africa right?? Well, long story short - that was a series of submissions to align my heart with God's. I've always had His call on my life to serve Him overseas, but when it came down to it, it was a huge step to leave family and friends for a lifetime in another country. But, back to my NYR . . .

the small details of life. Daily life. The shaping and molding of my life to be like His.

He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. Malachi 3: 2b-3a

Be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

There are times when His call to submission resounds loud and clear in my heart. And there are times when His voice is a soft stirring, a nudging to heed His voice and follow His will.

In either case, I also resolve to:

heed His voice and kneel before Him without protest.

As I wrote, I reflected that my oft-times camel-like submission was described by Jesus in the Gospels:

The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-31)

What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard."

"I will not" he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, "I will, sir", but he did not go.

Which of the two did what his father wanted?

I could take this parable two ways:

1. Permission to behave as a camel
or
2. Encouragement throughout this year in the times I will fail

Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

I want to strive beyond camel-behaviour. I desire to kneel before my God in submission to His voice - in daily life, in the molding of my character, in following Him. I have no doubt that it will require sacrifice, and I am sure my camel-nature will rear it's head from time to time; but, as the camel has a driver - so my Father goes before me, leading me on this path.

Christmas and New Year's . . . Nigerien Style

So the festivities this year marked my first away from family. It was different in many ways . . . some most obvious!:

the temperature - still climbing into the mid-30's during Christmas week!

thus . . . my first ever outdoor Christmas Eve service!

complete with needing to spray on mosquito repellant

the live animals - donkey, goat, lambs graced the service with their bleating and braying . . . creating an atmosphere (combined with the heat and sand) and Christmas experience seeming more similar to the first Christmas in Israel!

The Christmas lights that the government strung all over town, to celebrate Republic Day, are still around - so Niamey had it's very own 'Candy Cane Lane' (as my friend Jordanne dubbed the main road!)

The festivites started early in December, as my team gathered to celebrate Christmas the first weekend - before some teammates returned to Canada to celebrate with family. We ate a fabulous meal followed by Christmas carols and the reading of the Christmas story. We then opened Christmas presents - having selected Secret Santa names from a hat. I choose Tim's name and had a couple African-style ties made!:

We then spent the rest of the evening together, chatting and playing games. Here, a few of the children are enjoying their gifts of Smarties:

Christmas Eve Day, I visited a few markets in order to purchase gifts for my guards and house help. It was fun putting together the gift baskets for them - rice, sugar, tea (the Tamasheq LOVE their tea! - strong - and drink well into the night. I'm not entirely sure how they sleep when they get around to it!), soap and dates. I was also able to give them a small gift of money as well. Next year, I hope to be able add some more items to the gift basket - oil and flavour cubes (similar to oxo) and other assorted baking items here. It was such a joy to drive around and bring the gifts to those employees not working over the holidays and to visit with their families. At my swing guard's home, his daughter (5 years old) who has started pre-school this year, excitedly ran into the hut to bring me her school folder to show me the pictures she has drawn and the small stories she has wrote. We share no common language, but she is always excited to see me - often stopping by my house on the way to the market to ask her Papa if she can see 'the white' ('la blanche').

Christmas Eve has always been the traditional night to celebrate in my family, and I was happy to be invited to the Tjosvold home, along with some Southern Baptist and Samaritan's Purse friends to celebrate! We gathered for a mixture of Canadian traditional meal (chicken and stuffing) and traditional Norwegian meal (potatoe dumplings with ham and bread pretzels). We then sang more carols, read the Christmas story and exchanged a few presents. It was a fun evening!

At home later, I was able to skype with my family back home and my parents had received (first present opened) a web cam. All web cams were quickly installed and for the next two hours, my family and I (parents, brother, sister-in-law and nieces) chattered and were able to see each other over the ocean and miles between. It was such a blessing to see everyone again! I slept in after the late night (er, morning) and then watched The Nativity on Christmas morning. The part that struck me the most watching this movie, was the sacrifice that Mary & Joseph had to make in order for our Saviour to be born. In such a time, they gave of their lives - losing status, love and family -to followed God's voice into the unknown. Throughout the movie, I thought often of Mark Lowry's song: Mary Did you Know? . I long to grow in my relationship with God to hear His voice so clearly and grow greater in my obedience.

I finished the day at the McIver home for Christmas supper and games. We all remarked on how different the table looked - all used to large family meals with huge variety of food to feed many hungry mouths. Though we missed the three vegetable options, two types of meat and various other side dishes; we realized that for our small group even the one leg of lamb, sweet potatoe and carrot with parsnip mix was sufficient. It was a reminder of how different this Christmas was, but also to be grateful for the food that we had and the fellowship of eating together.

On Boxing Day, I invited the whole team over to my house for the traditional Boxing Day Waffle Brunch that my family has celebrated over 20 years with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins - the Clarks! It was a fun tradition to share. The table was full with waffles and toppings - complete with whipping cream, maple syrup, ice cream (though slightly more melted and liquidy than back home!) strawberries, mangos (instead of peaches) and blueberries. The rest of the day we played games, watched the Princess Bride, ate supper, and played more games. It was a day packed with food, laughter and fun!

Playing Rook - No wonder Paul kept taking the bids. He's got a great hand here - looks almost full of just blacks!

As I prepared the food for this supper, I realized there are a few things that I miss from party preparation back home - namely, M&M Meat Shop and Safeway - where you can buy salsa already made, meatballs and sauce in a box, etc... Certainly takes more time when everything is made by from scratch. But, still as tasty!

Playing Bunco in the evening, a fun game of rolling dice to be the first each round to 21 of the particular number (1's then 2's then 3's, etc...). A lot of fun!

Last night, I rang in the new year - 2009 - at the McIver home. We gathered again to play games. Close to midnight, we realized we may be able to see the fireworks from the roof of the house. So my friends climbed to the roof on a ladder - while I climbed to the roof of my friend's truck!! We were not able to see the main fireworks, but many of the surrounding neighbours had bought firecrackers and some small fireworks, so we were able to see some. (We also were ducking flying bats as we watched the light display.) It was certainly different to celebrate in a new country where the celebration of choice is firecrackers. They were still going off when I went to bed at 1:30 and still yet at 4:30 when I awoke to call some friends gathered in Calgary! I am sure they continued well past when I went back to bed at 5am as well!

Happy New Year!!!